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Call Centres

Mr. Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department plans to outsource call centre work to premises outside the United Kingdom. [132103]

Mr. Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is currently managing a project to secure a private sector strategic partner to assist in the development and support of the next generation of its Firecrest IT infrastructure. The future management of the internal help desk will be part of discussions with the private sector, when this partner is appointed, probably next year. But there are no plans to place this work outside the UK.

The FCO uses the MM call centre based in Bristol to provide travel advice. There are no plans to change this service.

Iraq

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Iraq to view the reconstruction programme. [132130]

Mr. Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last visited Iraq on 2 July. His travel plans, including plans to visit Iraq, are kept under review. He hopes to be able to return soon. My noble Friend, the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, Minister of State for the Middle East, visited Iraq between 7 and 8 October.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how regularly he holds discussions with the US Secretary of State on the activities of coalition forces in Iraq. [132134]

Mr. Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discusses all aspects of policy on Iraq frequently with the US Secretary of State.

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the UK is giving to the Iraq Governing Council and cabinet. [132241]

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Mr. Rammell: Ministers have established a dialogue with Governing Council members and Iraqi Ministers on providing assistance. British officials in Iraq help the Council and Ministries with policy and resources. Budgets for the Council and Ministries for 2003–04 have been agreed with the Coalition. We are engaging Iraqi Ministers at political level. My right. hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, for example, hosted the Iraqi Foreign Minister on 7 October, and my noble Friend, the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean met members of the Governing Council when she visited Baghdad on 8 October. Our policy objective remains to hand over full authority to Iraqis as soon as is practicable.

Cyprus

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the political situation in Cyprus. [132236]

Mr. MacShane: The British Government continue to believe that securing a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus by 1 May 2004, and enabling Cyprus to accede to the EU as a reunited island, is in the best interests of all Cypriots, and of the wider region. It is clear that a majority of people in both the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities are also looking to their leaders to bring this about.

The best way to do so would be for the parties to re-engage on the basis of the detailed settlement proposals presented by the UN Secretary General. The Annan Plan is balanced, practicable and compatible with the EU acquis-the EU has frequently reiterated its strong preference for accession by a reunited island and its willingness to accommodate the terms of a settlement negotiated through the UN process.

President Papadopoulos has affirmed that he is ready to negotiate on this basis. Mr. Denktash's latest statements, however, suggest that he is opposed not only to the Annan Plan but also to the UNSG's Good Offices. We hope the Turkish side will find a way out of this rejectionist stance, in time to enable all Cypriots and Turkey itself to reap the benefits.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the economic and political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [132246]

Mr. Mullin: The political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is encouraging. Apart from pockets of local violence the conflict has ended. The Transitional National Government in Kinshasa is in place. It has a huge task to exert its full authority throughout the country and to prepare for elections in two years, and it will have our full support.

The DRC's economy has been devastated by years of poor government and, latterly, war. The DRC has made significant progress in stabilising the economy through a three year government economic reform programme supported by a US$786 million IMF poverty reduction and growth facility. For the first time in 13 years the economy achieved positive growth levels in 2002. The situation should improve further, with the decision on

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23 July by the international financial institutions to reduce the DRC's total external debt by around 80 per cent.—some US$10 billion in monetary terms.

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo to discuss social reconstruction. [132247]

Mr. Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no immediate plans to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo. But he and Ministers from both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development take every opportunity in contacts with the Transitional National Government to emphasise our readiness to support a range of post conflict development issues, including social reconstruction.

Somalia

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the current economic and political situation in Somalia. [132248]

Mr. Mullin: While Somaliland has organised successful elections, which have brought stability to that region, the overall situation in Somalia remains unsettled without any form of effective Government.

The Government continue to support the reconciliation talks between Somali leaders which are currently taking place in Nairobi under the auspices of the International Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). We believe that these talks offer the best opportunity for securing a lasting peace.

The Somaliland economy has been hit hard by the ban on livestock exports to Saudi Arabia, due to fears of transmission of Rift Valley Fever. The economy is dependent upon remittances from the diaspora.

Bechtel

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [132596]

Mr. Rammell: We have not contracted with Bechtel during this period.

Public Diplomacy

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of promoting British branding and identity overseas in the last year for which figures are available; and what element of this expenditure promotes (a) Welsh, (b) Scottish and (c) Irish branding and identity as a distinct component of that of the United Kingdom as a whole. [131944]

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Mr. Mullin: Our public diplomacy strategy aims to understand and improve foreign perceptions of the UK. It is overseen by a Public Diplomacy Strategy board made up of a number of government departments, the devolved administrations and other organisations which have an interest in the UK's "brand".

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) public diplomacy expenditure in Financial Year 2003–04 includes:

£1.9 million on a "Think UK" campaign in China, plus £360,000 for the development of campaigns in Central Europe (partnerships with accession states) and North America (UK Science and Technology) to run in 2004;


A £2.4 million public diplomacy challenge fund which will support 81 projects in 51 different countries;


£1.25 million for British Satellite News, supplying material to overseas broadcasters; £32. 35 million for scholarships to overseas students;


£825,000 on a major FCO web infrastructure project, which includes www.i-uk.com; a central portal site to promote the UK overseas jointly with our public diplomacy partners (British Council, Trade Partners UK, Invest UK and VisitBritain);


£797,201 on generic products, such as £292,461 on publications promoting the UK. Sums have also been allocated this FY for publications promoting specific regions:


£12,750 on Scotland


£25,300 on Wales


£24,658 Northern Ireland


£36,340 England


£200,000 for public diplomacy activity promoting the UK's science and technology achievements overseas.

In addition, the FCO provides grant-in-aid of:

£166 million to the British Council


£220 million to the BBC World Service

Other than the publications on the Devolved Administrations, the FCO has not allocated separate expenditure for the promotion of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland overseas. However we actively encourage projects that promote their identity and they play an active role in our public diplomacy efforts, including participation in campaign steering groups as well as their representation on the Public Diplomacy Strategy Board.

Our worldwide network of Press and Public Affairs Officers also play an important role in promoting the UK identity overseas through their everyday work.

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